Troy Mayor Janice Daniels faces recall Nov. 6 (with video)

This year’s election ballot is filled with the inevitable various proposals, but a local issue could take precedence for Troy voters Nov. 6:

“Shall Janice Daniels be recalled from the office of Mayor?”

The proposition refers to the city’s embattled mayor, who has been surrounded by controversy almost as long as she’s been in office. She won election in a tightly contested race last November.

Shortly after Daniels took office in late 2011, a now-notorious Facebook post casting a homophobic slur made national news. Daniels’ ensuing statement regarding the post was even carried on cable news.

There have been other events which have led citizens to petition for the recall on the November ballot.

The need for the recall cites Daniels’ statement about a “whimsical” Troy City Charter last November; declaring the homosexual lifestyle “dangerous” during a forum; publicly attacking city employees; and lastly, for her lack of support for a federal investment of $8.4 million for a Troy Transit Center, which she voted against three times, according to the ballot.

A petition circulated by the group Recall Janice Daniels with nearly 9,000 signatures was approved by the Oakland County Election Commission in July.

Daniels did not return calls seeking comment for this story.

Recall Janice Daniels founder John Kulesz said he heard about the mayor’s controversial Facebook post on CNN.

“The damage is already done,” Kulesz said. “People already know who our mayor is. It would be better to have national attention for something good.

“It’s cast a pall over the entire region.”

Kulesz said the group used 130 volunteers to collect the signatures from all over the city.

“Once we got on the ballot, we got significantly larger,” he said.

Daniels’ rebuttal, also included on the ballot proposal, addresses each concern, starting “The language of this recall contains untrue statements.” She continues at length to defend her actions, ending: “Allow me to serve you faithfully as your Mayor.”

Defense doesn’t restThere’s also a group called No Troy Recall defending Daniels, attempting to keep her as mayor.

Member Dan Brake says his opposition is not the feel-good, grassroots effort it appears to be.

“It’s not a community-wide effort. It’s a special interest group,” he said. “It’s the same interests squaring off with the same people.”

As difficult as spreading Daniels’ defense, Brake said, could be getting voters to realize the question is even on the ballot. The question was placed on the reverse side of the ballot, he said, which could lead some voters to omit the proposal.

“It’s a major message to turn that ballot over,” Brake said. “It’s very hard to get on people’s radar with all the other issues (state and national).”

Troy was recently named by CNN Money as one of the nation’s top small cities in which to live. Brake said that accolade is a testament refuting Daniels’ perceived ineptitude.

Ray Watts, No Troy Recall treasurer, said Daniels is doing her part to fight the recall effort by simply maintaining an efficient city government.

“I’m sure it’s in the back of her mind,” Watts said, noting Daniels has not shied away from public appearances or civic engagement throughout the recall controversy. “The mayor is doing her job, council is working together and Troy is doing well with new and expanding businesses.”

The No Troy Recall site states that 53 percent of the registered voters who signed the recall petition this summer didn’t vote in November 2011 when Daniels was elected.

According to statistics available on the city’s website, only 26 percent of Troy’s registered voters cast ballots last fall when Daniels, a Tea Party candidate, edged Robin Beltramini, 52-48 percent, winning by 615 votes.

According to elections officials, Oakland County set a record for voter turnout in the 2008 presidential election with 72.5 percent of registered voters casting their ballots. Another 70 percent turnout is expected this year. Troy, in particular, they said, typically sees high voter turnout.

While it’s highly likely voter turnout is much greater this election, neither side seems certain the timing benefits their cause. The polarizing issue summoned dozens of residents to the podium Monday to speak for and against the recall effort at the final City Council meeting before the election. Daniels sat at the head of the table listening and tracking each residents’ allotted time.

A great place to live?The accommodation as a great place to live is likely a source of pride for some residents, but the appointment may have overlooked a key piece of residence — the local government.

Toby Gosselin, a retired teacher, moved to Troy four years ago. Promises of good schools and the other choice benefits befitting a city on such a coveted list lured her to the city, where she’s been frustrated with her local politicians since.

After a potential library closing piqued her interest, Gosselin began attending City Council meetings. Now what she sees is “a group of people so extreme in beliefs, they want to shut (city government) down,” she said.

“They’re extremists to the extreme.”

Feeling a call of civic duty, Gosselin has enlisted in the recall effort.

And although Daniels hasn’t made headlines of late, the mayor is still causing havoc, Gosselin said, addressing national issues rather than local in speech and even forcing the former city manager, John Szerlag, out of office.

The Tea Party rally cries that got Daniels elected, Gosselin said, have led the city to become understaffed.

“Her abilities are limited,” Gosselin said. “There’s a group of old men in Troy using her as their mouthpiece.”

Further, Gosselin asserted that Daniels’ comments at council meetings, which she regularly attends, have been littered with bigotry and sentiment of the same.

If recall succeedsCounty elections officials said only two recall petitions have completed the ballot process since 2001, and only one of those resulted in a recalled Keego Harbor councilperson. The other: A failed recall of former Pontiac Mayor Willie Payne in 2003.

“More often than not, they start and get language approved, but don’t get enough signatures,” said Joe Rozell, director of elections. “It’s very rare we see a recall go through the entire process.”

Rozell said if the recall does pass, Daniels is entitled to a recount. If the numbers bear out, Daniels would be removed from office when the votes are certified by the County Board of Canvassers, which occurs within two weeks of the election.

Councilman Jim Campbell Monday explored the possibility of the city having four different mayors in a span of just 30 days if the recall succeeds.

The Troy council would appoint the current Mayor Pro Tem Maureen McGinnis to be immediately sworn in as acting mayor for less than a week until a new mayor pro-tem is appointed. The council would then be required to appoint a new mayor within 30 days.

“I don’t know (who),” Campbell said. “We don’t have a name. This is not a slam dunk decision. We have to work through this.”

If the council has not made its appointment after 30 days, Campbell said, Gov. Rick Snyder would be allowed to step in to select a mayor.

“Wouldn’t this be lovely?” Campbell said sarcastically. “I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

A failed recallIf the recall effort fails, Daniels continues her term as mayor, which doesn’t expire until 2015. But that might not be the last attempt at her removal.

Brake said it’s possible, even if his group defeats the recall, another similar proposal could find its way onto another ballot, but only at the expense of a group bringing the recall.

Gosselin is also prepared for the possibility her group doesn’t succeed.

“I know the sun will rise the next day,” she said. “We’ll deal with it ... if they get her out, Troy will be able to clean up it’s image.”

Paul Kampe is the online coordinator for The Oakland Press. Email him at paul.kampe@oakpress.com and follow him on Twitter @PaulKampe